When purchasing a car, it’s essential to factor in all costs associated with ownership including fuel, maintenance and insurance premiums. A car insurance calculator is one way of getting an idea of your rates but these tools should only serve as estimates – the actual premium may depend on many different factors and these calculators should only give an estimation. Here are some tips that may help you understand which factors influence auto insurance quotes and how to lower them.

Driving Record: Your premium may increase or decrease depending on your overall driving history. In general, drivers with multiple accidents or traffic violations tend to pay more than drivers with clean records; furthermore, younger drivers tend to pay more than older ones; finally if you have been charged with DUI your insurance costs may likely skyrocket.

Vehicle: Your choice of car can also have an effect on your insurance rates. Safer vehicles (like minivans ) tend to be cheaper to insure than sports cars; on the other hand, cars equipped with advanced safety features could increase your rates; similarly for cars with higher theft rates where insurers charge extra to cover these risks.

Coverage Limits: Your policy coverage limits should reflect both state laws and individual preferences; at a minimum, buy coverage equal to the value of your assets.

Discounts: Most insurance companies provide at least some ways for customers to save money, including auto-pay and paperless billing. It is well worth taking the time to explore all available discounts, applying any that apply and taking steps to improve your credit score which could reduce premiums over time. These changes could take several months or years until fully implemented.